Can't read from external hard drive
 

It's a Western Digital MyBook. After I moved neither of my computers were able to detect the hard drive anymore. I carried the hard drive with me so I don't believe it was damaged, though I suppose it's always possible.

Any idea as to how I can access the data or see if the hard drive is still good?

Take the drive out of the external case and yet making an image of it. dd_rescue can be used to image it. Then test the drive. If the actual drive is good, get a new external case if desired.

Google and Youtube are your friends when it comes to figuring out how to open the case safely.

Interestingly, FREEZING the hard drive may enable you to retrieve the data. Sounds crazy, but google it



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I've heard this also :thumbsup

It has worked for us in the past. Linux can get you to the data on your hard drive also.

that sucks man, same thing happened to me a few months ago and i couldn't recover the data. have you tried going to My Computer and changing the drive letter?

after that happened i bought a Lacie raid drive and back that up with cheaper drives.

This is a bit like changing your engine oil because your diff is broken... because it's simple to do, and it "may" work.

Freezer trick is what you do LAST, not FIRST!